Fall 1995 Shore ReportCITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITIZEN INFORMER
OPEN, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS ENHANCED BY AN INFORMED POPULACE
Fall 1995
PLANNED WATER PROJECT PROCEEDS
ollowing neighborhood
meetings and a public
hearing earlier this year
the updated Comprehensive Plan
was adopted. The Comprehensive
Plan is a guide for future growth of
the City. One of the elements of
the Plan calls for a three phased
expansion of the city water system.
The task now is to plan a logical
schedule of watermain installation
so residents who may be affected
in the future can make plans as
well.
The 1995 project is in the works
and includes extending the Boulder
Bridge system on Howard's Point
Road from Pine Bend to Edge -
wood and east several hundred feet
on Edgewood; and on Smithtown
Road from Cajed Lane to Eureka
Road (east of the trail). The Badger
Field water system is planned to be
extended north on Manitou Road
to Glen Road. Also included in the
project is a watertower near the
Minnewashta School.
This summer four Public
Information meetings and a Public
Hearing were held for those im-
mediately affected by this year's
project who would receive special
assessments. Only those along the
route of the project will be as-
sessed for the improvements, an
amount of $5,000, assessed over a
15 year period on their property
tax bill. Newly created lots along
REPORT ON CITIZEN EVALUATION SURVEY
N early 400 households
responded to our Citizen
Service Evaluation Survey which
was enclosed with our last news-
letter. It is important for us to
know from year to year what
residents feel about municipal
services in Shorewood. We use
this information throughout the
year to set specific objectives for
improvement and in budget
deliberations.
Some of the more interesting
survey results as compiled over the
last three years are presented on
page 2 of this newsletter. We
thank all those who took the time
from their busy schedules to help
us in our efforts to be the best we
can be.
the project must pay that assess-
ment plus an additional $5,000
trunk charge.
The City Council thanks all
those who have taken the time to
read the mailings and attend the
neighborhood meetings and public
hearings. Your effort and input has
been valuable as the City Council
plans for the 21st century by
beginning implementation of the
Comprehensive Plan.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Citizen Survey Results .................. 2
Snowmobiling .. ............................... 3
Council Work Sessions ...................3
Dog License 1996 ...........................3
Door to Door Solicitation ...............4
Playground Improvements ..............4
Affordable Lending Program .......... 5
StopSigns ......... ..............................5
Rescue.............. ............................... 6
Recycling Update ...........................6
Rake- A -Thon .... ..............................7
Yard Waste Drop -off ....................... 7
Just for Seniors . ..............................7
Calendar ............ ..............................8
October 28
Yard Waste Drop Off Day
Information on page 7
Garage Sale Signs
SHOREWOOD FALL CALENDAR ''
September
19 .................. Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m.
25 .. ............................... City Council meeting 7:30 p.m.
26 ......................... Park Commission meeting 7:30 p.m.
October
3 .................... Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m.
9 ... ............................... City Council meeting 7:30 p.m.
17 .................. Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m.
23 .. ............................... City Council meeting 7:30 p.m.
24 ......................... Park Commission meeting 7:30 p.m.
28 ............. Yard Waste Drop Off 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
November
13 .. ............................... City Council meeting 7:30 p.m.
21 .................. Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m.
23 & 24 ...................... HOLIDAY (City Offices closed)
28 ......................... Park Commission meeting 7:30 p.m.
29 .. ............................... City Council meeting 7:30 p.m.
December
5 .................... Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m.
11 .. ............................... City Council meeting 7:30 p.m.
19 .................. Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m.
25 ..... ............................... Holiday (City Offices closed)
ycling on the Island for November 23 (Thanksgiving
) will be delayed by one day. It will be November 24.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
SHOREWOOD, MN 55331
(612) 474 -3236
DELIVER TO:
City of Shorewood
Council Members
Robert Bean, Mayor
Bruce Benson
Doug Malam
Jennifer McCarty
Kristi Stover
James C. Hurm, City Administrator
BULK RATE
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT # 128
EXCELSIOR, MN
55331
to
This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.
Citizen Informer
CITIZEN SERVICE EVALUATION SURVEY RESULTS SUMMARY
Survey Topic
1993
1994
1995
# of households responding
404
262
397
% satisfied or very satisfied
Physical condition of my street
55%
58%
64%
Physical condition of streets in general
60%
63%
75%
Level of park maintenance
92%
90%
93%
Condition of playground equipment
82%
84%
93%
Amount of recreation equipment in parks
75%
75%
89%
Feeling of safety in my neighborhood
88%
86%
91%
% excellent or good rating
Southlake Police overall service
87%
90%
92%
Police traffic enforcement
69%
70%
72%
Fire department overall service
97%
93%
100%
Animal control overall service
41%
33%
53%
Maintenance of my streets
59%
62%
68%
Snow removal
88%
91%
94%
Recycling program
93%
85%
91%
Utility maintenance response
81%
94%
100%
*Full survey results may be viewed at City Hall.
AREA YOUTH HELP IN SHOREWOOD'S PARKS
Area youth have been
working in parks in Shorewood
through the Summer Youth
Employment Program directed
by Twin Cities Tree Trust. The
program provides summer
employment for eligible youth.
It helps youth build positive self
concepts for themselves while
helping their communities
complete significant park and
recreational projects. They
work in structured, closely
supervised crews of 8 -10 youth.
Supervisors stress basic job
skills and a positive work
attitude, giving the participants
a solid foundation for future
employment. The projects
completed during this summer
include:
Freeman Park - volleyball court
and picnic table pads;
Badger Park - stain exterior of
warming house; and
Manor Park - stain exterior of
warming house and fence
satellite area.
PUBLIC HEARING
ANNOUNCEMENT
The City Council will hold its
initial Truth in Taxation Public
Hearing on Wednesday,' Novem-
ber 29, 1995 at 7:45 p.m'. at the
City Hall, 5755 Country Club
Rd. A continuation hearing will
be held, if necessary, on Wednes-
day, December 6, 1995 at 7 :30
p.m. at the City Hall. If the con-
tinuation hearing is not needed, it
will be cancelled following the
initial hearing. The anticipated
adoption date for the 1996 Bud-
get and Tax Levy is December
11, 1995. Residents are encour-
aged to attend these meetings to
have input into the budget process.
page 2
Citizen Informer
FALLING LEAVES
Is it possible to consider the "falling leaves "?
he Ninth Annual Tonka Rake -A -Thon is
scheduled for October 28th. The Tonka Rank -
A -Thon provides teams of volunteer rakers for
senior and disabled residents in the Minnetonka
School District. There is no charge for this service.
Applications are taken by contacting Jan Gray, Senior
Service Program Manager, Minnetonka Community
Education and Services, 261 School Avenue,
Excelsior, MN 55331. Phone: 470 -3488
YARD WASTE DROP -OFF DAY
The CiV Council has established Saturday,
" October 28 as Yard Waste
Drop -Off Day. Yard waste
-- can be dropped off at the
Public Works parking area,
24200 Smithtown Road, between
9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Grass, leaves and mixed brush will be ac-
cepted. All yard waste must be emptied from
bags, and the bags taken home. Brush and sticks
must be bundled with branches less than 1 1/2" in
diameter and less than 4" in length.
Alternative Options for Disposal of
Yard Waste Include:
• use as mulch around trees, shrubs and
in planting beds;
• compost; or
• hauled away by a private refuse hauler.
Recycling Hotline
The Connection has a Metro Recy-
cling Hotline that can provide answers to
questions about additional products that
can be recycled. Call 922 -9000 for more
information
JUST FOR SENIORS....
FALL AT SOUTHSHORE
Southshore Senior Center is located in Mt. Calvary Church,
301 County Rd 19. For more information on any of these
programs call 474 -7635.
Legal Consultation - available the 2nd and 4th
Monday of each month. Make your appointment for
this half -hour (no- charge) session by calling
Southshore Senior Center.
FOOT CARE CLINIC -held the 2nd Monday of each
month. Appointments are necessary. $25 initial
charge; $15 return visit.
HEARING SCREENINGS - Sept. 18 beginning at
12:45 p.m. This is for those wearing hearing aids or
for those who might need one. The screening will be
conducted by a registered Audiologist. Appointments
are necessary.
FLU IMMUNIZATIONS - Friday Oct. 20 - Provided
by Ridgeview Health Care from 9 to 11 a.m. There is
no charge for the shot and appointments are not
necessary.
"55 ALIVE" MATURE DRIVING CLASSES
8 Hour Driving Class - Sept. 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to
3p.m. $8 Reservation by Sept. 18.
4 -Hour Renewal Driving Class - Monday, Oct. 2 from
10 a.m. to 3p.m. (for those who previously took the 8
hours of class). $8 Register by Sept. 22.
MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY - Join Pete
Nystrom, Field Service Staff of Minnesota Historical
Society, when he presents two programs about our
most interesting and great State, Friday, Sept. 29 -
The Historic Sites of Minnesota. Oct. 20 - Strange
and Unusual Sites in Minnesota. Both programs
begin at 12:45 p.m. and dessert and coffee are served
FUND- RAISING EVENTS - Lasagna Dinner - Oct. 6
Serving from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets available at
the door or at the Senior Center. Cost: $5
Holiday Boutique - Friday, Nov. 3 from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
FOR FOLKS 60 - Dining - every Monday, Tuesday
and Friday at noon. Call for reservations.
Transportation - to the center, to grocery stores, and to
shopping centers.
Citizen Informer page 7
SNOWMOBILING IN SHOREWOOD?
The updated Comprehensive Plan calls for a
review of policies allowing and regulating
snowmobiling in Shorewood. The City Council has
established a Task Force to look at related issues.
The Task Force is made up of representatives of
the Planning and Park Commissions and four Shore-
wood residents (with a balance of opinions on
snowmobiling). A Police Department representative, a
Snow Patrol representative and the City Administrator
are non - voting members. The objectives of the Task
Force are:
Define the issues and identify and determine the
extent of problems to be addressed.
• Analyze and report on issues and problems
regarding snowmobiling on the LRT Regional Trail,
City rights -of -way, City streets and private property:
and
Review possible strategies to reduce incidents of
noncompliance with City code and to acquire reliable
data on such incidents including but not limited to:
additional or revised snow patrol activity; use of radar
continued on page 5: SNOWMOBILING
COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS
Regular City Council meetings are cablecast on
Channel 8 - the Government Access Station. Channel
8 displays upcoming scheduled events all day, so if
you're interested in watching a regular City Council
meeting on television, check it out.
City Council work sessions are in a format more
like a round table discussion than a formal meeting
setting with no action being taken by the City Council.
Even though the format is not appropriate for
cablecasting the discussions may be of interest to you.
Subjects which are planned to be discussed in work
sessions yet this year are as follows:
• A vision for Shorewood /Goals for 1996
• 1996 Operating Budget
• 1996 -2000 Capital Improvement Program
• Affordable Senior Housing Financing Options
• Livable Communities Program (affordable
housing)
• Consideration of Organized Refuse Collection
• Municipal Cooperative Efforts
Contact City Hall to see if the work session(s) you
may be interested in has been scheduled.
No License will be issued without written evidence that the dog has been inoculated for the prevention of
rabies within the past two years. Mail in the Inoculation Certificate, License fee plus $.50 for mailing &
handling to the City of Shorewood, 5755 Country Club Rd, Shorewood, MN 55331.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD DOG LICENSE APPLICATION FOR 1996
All dogs must be licensed by January 1, 1996
Dog's N
Breed
Ag Sex Rabies Tag # Date of Rabies Shot
2. Dog's N
Age
Breed
Sex Rabies Tag #.
Total Number of Dogs in Household:
Veterinarian
Owner /Applicant's Name.
Address
Street
City
Date of Rabies Shot
Day Phone Evening Phone
State Zip
All Information collected by this agency is public pursuant to State Statute.
Office use only
1 City Tag # 2. City Tag # Amt'. Paid .% Rec't'#
Citizen Informer page 3
RESCUE IN FREEMAN PARK...
One of Freeman Park's soccer goals caught more than a soccer ball this summer. A great horned owl became
entwined in a net and was unable to free itself. Shorewood Public Works personnel solicited the assistance of
Ernie Olson, an employee ofTonka Auto (at Highway 7 near Christmas Lake Road) and Raptor Center Volunteer,
who examined and released the owl unharmed. Ernie estimates the owl was only 6 weeks old at the time.
The pictures above show Shorewood Public Works Employee Larry Niccum assisting Ernie Olson in the great
horned owl rescue effort.
UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON RECYCLING PROGRAM
Each year the City has applied
for and received funding from
Hennepin County to offset the cost
of our recycling program. This
year County funding has dimin-
ished to approximately $22,000 or
43% of the entire curbside recy-
cling program cost. Municipalities
granted these funds are required to
recycle at least 18 percent of their
residential waste stream. In 1994
the City of Shorewood recycled 28
percent and in 1995 the City
recycled 29 percent of the total
waste stream.
In September 1994 the City
changed to a new recycling
contractor. E -Z Recycling, and
later entered into a three year
contract for services with them.
Our contract provides for once a
week collection. Items are re-
quired to be curbside by 7:00 a.m.
on Wednesdays, and Thursdays for
Shady and Enchanted Island
residents.
Items to be collected include:
Magazines Newspaper
Mixed Mail Cans (rinsed)
Glass (rinsed)
Plastics (only bottles with necks)
Cardboard (corrugated only)
Place till items in a separate browli
bag. Co- mingled items will not be
collected. If items are improperly
prepared, an informational tag
identifting the problem will be left.
The City's recycling contract also
includes a clause for material
revenue sharing —up to 50% of
proceeds from certain materials
collected is returned to the City to
help pay for the program. Through
June of 1995, approximately
$2,200 had been returned to the
City through revenue sharing.
page 6
Citizen Informer
LICENSES REQUIRED FOR DOOR -TO -DOOR SOLICITATION
Chapter 308 of the Munici-
pal Code - Transient Merchants,
Solicitors, Peddlers, Canvassers
and Garage Sales - sets forth
licensing requirements and
controls for these types of
activities. The scope and
purpose of this section is to
protect the public health, safety
and welfare of the citizens of
the City of Shorewood. All
organizations and companies
working within the City must
first obtain a license at City
Hall. Prior to approval of said
license, staff investigates the
applicant.
Recently City Hall has
received many calls from
homeowners questioning an
organization, company or
individual working within the
City limits. Often we can verify
that a license has been issued.
However, if you suspect an
individual is working in the area
without the appropriate approv-
als, we suggest the following
course of action:
- Ask the person to exhibit the
license issued by the City
approving their activity;
- Contact the Police Depart-
ment with a description of the
person and /or the vehicle or the
name of the organization or
company, and the day, time and
location seen.
Transient Merchants, Solici-
tors, Peddlers and Canvassers
are required to obtain a license
within the City of Shorewood
limits. Please contact City
Hall at 474 -3236 for details
and an appropriate applica-
tion.
There may be a seven (7) daY waiting
I period between the application and
issuance of the license.
L------ - - - - -J
PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS
Neighborhood residents spent a wet Saturday this August installing playground equipment in
Cathcart Park. The funds saved by volunteer labor went to expand the playground area. This is the
fourth of five Shorewood parks which has seen such a neighborhood project. Badger Park is planned for
playground equipment improvements next year.
12
- Try to obtain a vehicle
license number; and
Left to Right: A Chanhassen resident, Chris Farr, Brad Farr, Mark Kasperch, Chris Carey, and Dale Newberg
install playground equipment at Cathcart Park. Not pictured are Abby Newberg, John Steinhibel, Tonky
Pink, Jeff Wingfield and Charlie Davis.
reY.TLTa
Utizen Intormer
AFFORDABLE LENDING
AND HOUSING
REHABILITATION
PROGRAM
Good news for those seeking
information regarding these
programs. Together, the Minnesota
Housing Finance Agency and the
Minnesota Mortgage Bankers
Association have developed an
"Affordable Housing
Homeownership Directory ". This
directory is intended to help first -
time homebuyers, current
homeowners interested in fixing up
their home, those in need of credit
counseling, housing professionals
and many others! Brochures
explaining this new service are
available at City Hall.
To use the directory, call
296 -7925 or
1- 800 - 934 -7325.
SNOWMOBILING
continued from page 3
or videotape; additional signage;
educational programs; physical
barriers; and additional patrol by
the Hennepin County Water Patrol
and Sheriff and South Lake Police.
A report is to be submitted to
the City Council (including major-
ity and minority opinions) at this
time next year.
Citizens want to know...
Why don't they put in more stop signs?
A stop sign is one of our most
valuable and effective control
devices when used at the right place
and under the right conditions.
One common misuse of stop
signs is to arbitrarily interrupt
through traffic, either by causing it to
stop, or by causing such an inconve-
nience as to force the traffic to use
other routes. Where stop signs are
installed as "nuisances" or "speed
breakers," there is a high incidence of
intentional violation.
In those locations where vehicles
do stop, the speed reduction is
effective only in the immediate
vicinity of the stop sign, and fre-
quently speeds are actually higher
between intersections.
For these reasons, stop signs
should not be used as a speed control
device.
A school crossing may look
dangerous for children causing
parents to demand a stop sign to halt
traffic. A vehicle which previously
had a problem for the three seconds
or so approaching and passing that
intersection now has a problem for a
much longer period of time. Both the
The 1995 Citizen Service Evaluation Survey
response shows an increase in the rating for our recycling
program. It is our quest to continue to improve this
service for all residents. If you have any questions or
concerns contact either City Hall at 474 -3236 or E -Z
Reycling at 644 -6577.
vehicle and the pedestrian have a
problem deciding when to cross or
start up. There are no longer
normal gaps in traffic through
which pedestrians can safely cross.
An intersection that previously
was not busy now looks like a
major intersection, even though it
isn't. It doesn't even look safer,
and it usually isn't.
Most drivers are reasonable
and prudent, with no intention of
violating traffic regulations.
However when an unreasonable
restriction is imposed, violations
are more likely to occur. An
unreasonable stop sign can create a
false sense of security in a pedes-
trian and an attitude of contempt in
a motorist. This can lead to tragic
results.
Well- developed, nationally
recognized guidelines help to
indicate when such controls
become necessary. These guide-
lines include:
• probability of vehicles arriving
at an intersection at the same
time;
• length of time traffic must wait
to enter; and
• availability of safe crossing
opportunities.
This article was written by George
Calebaugh, Brooklyn Park Traffic
Engineer
Shorewood City Council
meetings are cablecast on
Channel 8. Check your
TV schedule for days and
times.
Citizen Informer page 5